Electric switch



May 5, 1925. ,536,294

c. L. HOPKINS ELECTRIC swITcH Filed Sept. 19, 1919- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. L. HOPKINS May 5', 1925.v

f ELECTRIC sw'ITH Filed Sept. 19, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 zven't'ora y May 5, 1925,

C' L- HOPKINS ELECTRI C SWITCH Filed sept. 19, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ffy-,15.

"aindfinore specifically to pull switch i ysocket embodyingl "my invention; F1g52 is a section "Patented May 5, 19295.

n y Ni-ITED YSTATES n 'APAT-r.

`CHARLES nIIoPKINs, OF RIVER FOREST n TUNINGeoMrirNY,` or CHICAGO, ILLINOIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS. n II Application filed. September River Forest, in the county of Cook and `State of Illinois, lia'veinvented newand useful Improvements in Electric Switches,of

`which the following is a full, clear, concise, `and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, formingI a inirtofthls specification.` I n I Myinvention relates toelectric switches, sockets. One ofthe objects `of my invention is to provide an improvedswitch in which the circuit "is Simultaneously broken i at two points, thus dividingI the arc.

A further object of my invention isxto provide an improved switch socket in which .Ithecircuit to both of the `receptacleicontacts is simultaneous'ly| broken. V f W `Further objects will appear from` the detailed description to follow and from the appended' claims.

ln the drawings in which two embed imerr'ts of myinvention are shown,` Figfl is a topplan View of a pull switch Fig. 3 is a sectionsubstantiallyIonthe line Fig. 4 is a section F ig. is a sectionsubstantially on the line 5 ofprFig. 1; f

Fig.I (i is asection sijibstantially on the line (S9-G of Fig. 2; I j

3 Fig. 's a detail perspective view of part i i `of theswitchfram'eg p n Fig'. 8 is a detailperspective view of part the switch; I Fig. `9 is aI detail perspective view of one of "the rotary contact members;

. Fig. `10 is a plan view ofa pull switch r socket showing another forml of-my invention; n Y

1 iig. 11 `is a section `substantially line 11.-11 of Fig. 10; n

F ig. 12 is a sectionl substantiall `line 12e-12 of Fig'yll; 4 n Fig. 13 is a section` substantially on the line 1S-13V` of Fig. 11; i. n

Fig. `14E is `a section substantially linc 1er-14C of Fig. 11;

y on the on the substantially on the liney substantially on the line` NT OFFICE. I

,ILLINoIs iissIGNOR To BENJAMIN NINC- NLNOTNIC SWITCH.

is, 1919. serial No. 324,971.

Fig. lis a detail f perspective view of one O the rotary contact members; Fig. 16 isa det-ail perspective view ofthe oscillating,` operating member; 1" I Fig. 17 is adetail .perspective View of one ofthe springl contact members; and I I Fig. 18 is a Iside elevation. of one of the contact carriers. y n Referring now to the `drawings and first tothe form shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive,

in order to give `a general idea ofthe construction, it is here stated that:

The pull; switch socket here shown coniprises a sheet metal casing 20 and insulating base 21I-,and shell and center contacts 22 and 23 respectively (the shell and center contacts ,being supported by the insulatingbase `2l, and the insulating base and the contacts "supported thereby being housed in a: casing 20)` and a ratchet pull switch mechanism 24, supported by the insulating basel 21, which breaks both sides of the circuit, simultaneouslyyso that when the switch is in oit position, both of the `receptacle contacts, that is the shell Contact 22 and the center contact 23, are dead. The switchmechanism comprises two spring contact .fingers 25 and 26 (the spring contact tinger'25being always electrically connected with the wiringI terminal 27, and the springl contact tinger 26 being' always electrically connected 'with'the wiring terminal28) Iand two conf tact members 29 and 30 which cooperate `with the spring contact fingers 25 and 2G :respectively the contact members being mount.-v

contact`22, and the contact 30 being always electrically connected with the center contact 23).` The contacts 29 and `3(),fin their movement, move simultaneously out of con-` tact with respect to thepcoiitact fingers 25 and 2G. F rom this construction it follows that the circuit from the wiring` terminal I 27 to the shell contaetvivill be broken at the same time that the Icircuit from the wiring' terminal 28to t-he center `Contact will be broken. I I

Iveferrinr now `to the switch construction in detail, the contacts 29 s and 3() are secured ica on a rotatable Contact carrier 31 which is operated by means ofan oscillating switch lercr 32, through the intermedi,ary of a ratchet mechanism 33. The contact carrier, and switch lever 32, are mounted in brackets 34 and 35. rl`he bracket 34 is always electrically connected with the rotary contact 29, and with the shell contact, and the bracket 35 is always electrically connected with the other rotary contact and with the center contact 23, these brackets thus serving not only to support the rotary contact carrier and switch lever, but also serving as part of the electrical circuit. The bracket y is secured in place on the insulating base 21 by means of a screw 3G, which also serves to assist in holding the shell Contact 22 in place on the base, and to electrically connect the bracket 34 and shell Contact. Similarly the bracket 34 is held in place on the insulating base 21 by means oi' a screw 37, which also serves to hold the center contact 23 in place on the base and to electrically connectthe center contact 23 and the bracket The rotary Contact 29 is held in place on `the contact carrier by means o't' an integral inwardly extending arm 3S (Fig. 9) having a collar portion 39, into which extends a lug or boss 40v on the contact carrier, the collar 89 extending into an opening in the bracket 34, which thus forms a bearingv 'for one end of the Contact carrier. The arm 38 not only serves to hold the brush 29 in place on the contact member carrier, but electrically connects the contact portion of the saine with the bracket 34. The contact member 3() is held in place on the contact carrier by means of an inwardly extending' arm 41, (Fig. 5) which has an opening through which entends a shaft 42 secured to the contact carrier 31. This arm 41 not only serves to hold the contact member SO in place on the contact carrier but also electrically connects the contact portion of. the same with the shaft 42, which also is part ott-he circuit, rlhis arm 41 is so constructed that it `torms one ot the ratchet members ot the ratchet connections between the switch lever 32 and the contact carrie-r. For this purpose it is provided with shoulder portions 43 which are engaged by ratchet teeth 44, stuck up from a sheet metal ratchet member 45, which is secured to the switch lever 32 (Fig. 6). This ratchet member 45 is secured to the contact carrier by means ot a. col-lar portion 46, formed integral with the ratchet member, and extending through registering openings in two insulating discs 47 and 4&5, forming part oi' the switch lever, the collar portion 46 being riveted over, to securely hold the ratchet member in place on these discs. and also to securely hold these discs together. These discs 47 and 4S serve to support an' arcuate chain rail 49 (Fig. 4) which supports the chain 50 and to which the chain 50 is secu-red by means ot hook fingers, as indicated at 51. The chain rail 49 is secured to the disc 4S by means of three lugs 53, which extend through openings in the disc 48 and are riveted over as indicated in Fig. 2. The disc 47 serves to cover up the bent-over ends of these lugs 53 and preventv short circuit-ing between them and the live parts of the switch. The oscillating movement of the switch lever 32 is limited to substantially 180 degrees, by means of stop lugs 54, formed integral with the discs 47 and 48, which stop lugs engage suit-ably located shoulders 55 and 56, on the insulating base 21.

ller returning the switch lever after it has been operated by the pu-ll chain 5t), a coil torsion springv 57 is provided, one end of which is secured in notches in the insulating discs 47 and 48, as indicated at 58 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) and cured to a combined spring securing and bearing member 59 (Fig. 8) which is ad justably mounted in the bracket 35. This member 59 may be a sheet metal stamping, having a cup-shaped bearing portion 59 which tits in an opening in the bracket 35, and having a flange portion G0 which positions it with respect to this bracket. This flange portion 6() has a positioninglug G1 stuck up therefrom which can bel made to engage in any one ot a plurality oit notches G2 in the bracket 35 (Fig.l 5) to adjustably :position the spring securing member in the bracket 35 to adjust the tension of the coil torsion spring 57, which spring 57 is secured to a lug 63 extending from the flange portion GO of the sprine` securing member. T he cup-shaped portion o9 is provided with a slot 64 ior engagement with a screwdriver, whereby the spring securing member may be pushed inwardly to disengage the lug G1 from the notch 72 and' turned to adjust the tension ot the spring. lVhen the spring securing member is thus adjusted to the desired position, the screw-driver is withdrawn, and the spring 57 will Ytorce spring securing member outwardly, and cause the positioning lug 6l to enter the desired one ot the notches 62.

The circuit has been outlined in connection with the description of the pa-rts of the pull socket, and is as follows: From the wiring terminal 28, through the spring contact linger 26, rotating contact 30, arm 41, shaft 42, bracket 35 and screw 37 to the center contact, thence to nhatever translating device is inserted into the receptacle to the shell contact 22, and through the screw 36, bracket 34, rotating contact 29 and spring contact finger 25 to the wiring termina-l 27.

The operation oi' the devi-'ce is as follows:

Assuming that the switch is in ofi position, as shown, and it is desired to turn it on, the pull vchain 50 is p'ulleddown, to move the switch. lever 32 and contact carrier 31 through 180 degrees ot movement. During this movement of the contact carrier, the

the other end of which is se-l spring contact lingers the spiral portions ol' the contact carrier, and at the end ofthe movement snap .down

`from the spiral portions, and intocontact with the contacts 29 and 30 respectively. 'lhis` simultaneously electrically connects both of the receptacle contacts 22 and 23 with the wiring terminals 27 and 28 respectively.

`chain are located to one lfVhen the pull chain 50 is released, the torsion spring 57 returns the switch lever 32 to its original position, the contact carrier 3l, however, remaining stationary during this return movement of the switch lever. rllhe spring' fingers 25 and 26 would prevent any return movement of the contact carrier, by engagement with the shoulders behind which they have just snapped. It lit is desired to turn the switcli otlf the pull chain 50 is again pulled down, to move the switch lever and contact carrier through 180 degrees of movement. During this movement ol the contact carrier, the contact lingers 25 and 26 ride upon the contact portions contacts 29 and 39 and at the end of the movement snap down from these contacts into engagement with the carrier, thus breaking the circuit on both sides of` the receptacle. lVhen the pull chain 50 is released, the spring 57 again returns the switch lever, the Contact carrier, however, remaining stationary during this Areturn movement. rllhe spring contact lingers 25 and2G would resist any return movement of a the contact carrier, by engagement with the shoulders-back of which they have just snapped. i f

Inthe form of my invention shown in Figs. l() to 19 inclusive, the casing 20, the insulating base 2l, the shell and center contacts 22 and 23, may be the same as in the form just described. rlhe principal ditl'er ences between the twoconstructions shown arein the switch mechanism itself. ln the form just described the switch lever and pull side of the contact carrier and its contacts. ln the `form about to be described, the switch lever and pull chain are mounted to operate between the two rotatably mounted contacts. ln both forms, however, the circuit is simultaneously broken on both sides otE the receptacle. In this form, the switch mechanism comprises two rotatably mounted contact carriers ($5 and (3b, the contact 65 being always electrically connected with the shell contact 22, and the contact 66 being always electrically connected with the center contact 23, and a pair oit spring contact fingers G7 and GS for cooperation with the contacts (if` and 6G respectively, the contact G7 being always electrically connected with the wiring terminal 69, the contact 68 being always electrically connected with the wiring vterminal 70. 'in this torni of my invention the two spring contacthngers 67 and 68 may be identical,

and 26 ride upon and may be formed of sheetmetal stampings. The contacts 65 and 66 are similar in construction, one being the reverse of the other, that is, one might bel termed right hand andthe other left hand, and the contact carriers 7l aid 72 are also similar in construction, being right and left hand. These contact carriers 7l and 72 are connectedtogether by means of a rod 73, this rod being tinted, as indicated in Figs. ll and l2 toprevent relative rotatfon between thc carriers and the shaft. The contact 65 is held in place on the carrier 7l bymeans ot' an inwardly extending arm 74, formed integral with the contact, and having a collar 75, t F ig. l5) into which extends an integral boss 76 on the carrier 7l. This collar 75 extends into an opening on a bracket 77, the bracket 77 thus forming a bearing for the carrier. This arm 74 not only serves to hold the contact in place on the carrier, but serves as part of the electrical connection, in that it electrically connects the Contact portion ol the contact member with the bracket 77, which in turn is electrically connected with the shell contact 22 by means of a screw 78, which also serves to hold the threaded shell contact 22 and the bracket 77 in place on the insulating' base 2l. i

In a similar manner, the contact 6G is held in place on the carrier 72 by means or" an inwardly extending arm 79 (Fig. 14:) having a collar 8O into which extends an integral boss 8l ot' the carrier 72. The collar 80 extends into an opening in the bracket 82, whereby the bracket 82 terms a bearing` for the carrier 73. The arm 79 serves not only to hold the contact in place on the carrier, but also serves to electrically connect the contactportion ol this member with the bracket 82, which is part ol the circuit, in that the contact is electrically connected to the center contact 23 by means ol a screw 83, which screw also serves to hold thecenter Contact .i3 and the bracket 82 in i place on the insulating base 2l. By reason of the construction just described, the contact Gais `always electrically connected with the shell contact, and the contact (36 is always electrically connected with the center contact.

The contact carriers are operated bv means of a switch lever Si (Fig. 16) which may be a sheet metal stamping, having an opening 85 therein to receive an integral boss 86 on the carrier 72 and having ratchet teeth 87 for engagement with corresponding ratchet recesses 88 formed in the side face of the carrier 72. The switch lever has a chain rail portion 89 for supporting the pull chain 90, which is secured tothe switch lever by means of two hook portions 91 formed integral with the switch lever. F or returning the switch lever after it has been operated by the pull chain 90, a coil torsion spring 92 is provided, which surround the bosses SG and 93 ot the carriers, and has one end 9i secured in a recess in the insulating base 2l, and its other end secured to the switch lever as indicated at 95.

The circuit ar 'angement otl this torni ot my invention is substantially the same as in the torni previously described. l/Vhen the switch is closed the circuit is trom the wiring terminal T0 to the spring contact linger (3S, contact 66, braclet 82, screw 83 to the center Contact, thence to whatever translating device is inserted in the receptacle, to the shell contact 22, and through the screw 78, bracket TT, contact 65, and spring contact linger (3T to the wiring terminal ($9.

lt the switch is in oti position as shown in the drawing, and it is desired to turn the switch con the pull chain Slt) is pulled down, to move the contact carrier litt) degrees. The movement of the switch lever is limited to sul'istantially 180 degrees by an extension 9G on the switch lever, which engages an abutment 9T on the insulating base 2l, in one direction, and the. movement ot the lever is limited in the other direction by the engagement ot the hook 9i with anothe abutment portion 98 of the insulating base.

During this movement ot the contact carrier, the spring contact lingers (57 and G8 ride upon the spiral portions ot the Contact carriers, and at the end ot this movement snap down into engagement with the contacts (35 and (Sti, respectively, thus completing 'the circuit to both sides ot the receptacl sinniltaneously. lVhen the pull chain 90 is released, the spring J2 returns the switch lever to its original position. During this return movement ot the switch lever` the contact carriers remain stationary. lt it is now desired to turn the switch otl77 the pull chain is again pulled down, causing the carriers to move 1S() degrees. During his movement the spring contact lingers Gi' and (38 ride upon the contacts (35 and GG respectively, and at the end ot the movement snap oill from the ends ot these. contacts and into engagement with the brush carriers, thus quickly and simultaneously breaking the circuit on both sides oi the receptacle. When the pull chain is released, it is again returned by means et a spring 92.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A switch mechanism comprising an insulating contact carrier constructed in two separable mating parts, each having a portion ot' reduced diameter and a portion of greater diameter, the portions ot reduced diameter -facing each other; a torsion spring surrounding said reduced portions; a driving member supported upon said reduced portions; a flexible operating member winding on said driving member; a curved con- 'tact arranged on the larger portion ot each ot said mating parts; each ot said parts having a tlange ext-ending beyond its contact to torni a barrier between the same and the driving and tlexible operating members; conducting bearings tor said contact carrier electrically connected to said curved contacts; and stationary contacts engaging said curved contacts and arranged to snap oil' the same simultaneously.

i switch mechanism con'iprising a rotatable insulating contact carrier constructed in two separable parts, a curved Contact carried by each part, each of said curved contacts having a length oit' substantially ltlt) degrees, a pair ot conducting bearings` each connected electrically with one of said curved contacts, ratchet and pawl operating means tor driving said contact carrier, said operating means comprising an oscillating member contined between the parts oitl said carrier and removable therefrom only when the parts are sepa ated, a coiled spring also contined between said parts for returning said oscillating member and arranged to yieldingly hold the ratchet and pawl members in engagement with each other, means 'tor operating said oscillating member, and stationary contacts engaging said curved contacts and arranged to snap olil the same simultaneously.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES L. HOPKINS. 

